November 20, 2024
News

Mystery Diner: Pazzi di Pizza in Elmhurst the perfect spot for Italian cuisine

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ELMHURST – It's a special week for the Mystery Diner and my spouse as we celebrate our wedding anniversary. It brings back delightful memories of our honeymoon in Rome, enjoying pizza, pasta and a little wine on breezy terraces and bustling squares.

Well, travel to Europe isn't much of an option these days – but never fear, Elmhurst has the perfect spot to enjoy a taste of Italy at Pazzi di Pizza at 105 S. York St.

We ventured out on a warm summer evening for pickup, arriving to find a vibrant downtown Elmhurst restaurant area. Pazzi di Pizza, as noted on its website, translates to "crazy for pizza," and was opened in Elmhurst in 2011, by a group of friends from different regions in Italy who met in America and "put their passion for food together" to serve fresh and authentic Italian cuisine. A second location has since opened in Park Ridge.

Pazzi di Pizza has taken well to al fresco dining. It already had cozy tables lining the side of the restaurant for an intimate outdoor experience, and has set up a large tent that on this evening was alive with many diners enjoying a night out.

Ordering for takeout was a snap. We were told upon placing the call that our dinner would be ready in 20 minutes, and we were in and out right away at the pickup location on the side of the restaurant. Our appetites only grew with the aroma of piping hot pizza on the ride home.

Pazzi di Pizza features a huge selection of favorites from appetizers to entrees and desserts. Scanning the menu to order, we noticed three different variations of calamari appetizers, some 10 different salads and tried-and-true pasta dishes like chicken and veal Parmigiana, homemade gnocchi and chicken or veal Marsala.

My dining companion and I, though, were in the mood for pizza on this evening.

We got the meal started with an order of bruschetta, always a favorite of ours. We weren't disappointed. The crunchy crostini had a touch of extra virgin olive oil for a buttery feel, along with fresh, juicy tomatoes and basil, all topped off with thick slices of Parmesan cheese. It was the perfect blend of tomato and basil. We've tried our share of bruschetta on two continents over the years – Pazzi di Pizza was the best yet!

The bruschetta was the perfect lead-in to the main event of the evening, some wood-fired pizza. Pazzi di Pizza has an extensive selection of pizzas, including a build-your-own option and several white pizzas.

While my companion opted for the lighter Margherita pizza, with mozzarella and basil, I went for a little more heft, Funghi e Salsiccia, featuring mozzarella, sausage and mushrooms.

We discovered that the restaurant's pizza doesn't overload you with cheese and sauce. There's just enough of both to satisfy the taste buds. The sausage and mushrooms were the perfect accompaniment to the star of the show, the crust.

Thin and stretched crust, it was crunchy and at the same time delicate. The texture was true bliss to bite into. I made sure to save one slice for the next day to prolong the experience.

Whether you're in the mood for a night out, some elegant al fresco dining, or pickup, Pazzi di Pizza truly provides a delightful tour of Italian favorites.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at Suburban Life Media. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff when ordering or picking up the food. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review.

IF YOU GO

Pazzi di Pizza

WHERE: 105 S. York St., Elmhurst

HOURS: Noon to about 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 3 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday; 4 to 8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

INFO: Call 630-279-2323 for pickup orders; menu can be found at www.pazzidipizza.com